Funeral of Jo Cox MP to be held this week

Georgina Morris

THE FUNERAL of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox will be held in her constituency on Friday.

It will be a private service for immediate family only, followed by a function for invited guests.

But the cortege will follow a route around the constituency, which will see it slow at two locations to allow members of the public to pay their respects.

From approximately 10.30am, the cortege will follow a route along the A638 in Heckmondwike towards a slow-down point on Westgate/Market Street.

The cortege will then continue towards Batley where shortly after there will be a further slow-down point on Market Place/Cambridge Street before it leaves Batley.

Mrs Cox’s family has asked that they be allowed to grieve privately then.

In a statement they said: “We have been overwhelmed and touched by the love and support people have shown us since Jo’s death. We are deeply grateful to all who have reached out to us.

“Knowing that so many people share both our grief and our determination to take forward Jo’s legacy is a source of great strength at what otherwise feels like a very bleak time.

“Now, particularly for the children, we have decided that Jo’s funeral will be a very small and private family affair. Anybody from the local community who would like to pay their respects is welcome to gather along the areas outlined as we make this last journey. Following this we would ask everyone to respect our privacy to enable us to grieve and rebuild as a family.”

There are expected to be minor disruptions to traffic as the funeral cortege passes through the area and police are asking for the public’s patience and co-operation.